How many different Holmes adaptations do you have?

[ElstonGunn]

Hi there, 

Been visiting the forum for a long time but only recently joined up and enjoying it. 
 

How many different Series have you all seen/got when it comes to adaptions (TV, film and radio) I’ve seen the BBC series and the two recent films are plus the Clive Merrison (which is my favourite version of Holmes) radio series but rarely looked deeper into any other versions. If enough recommendations are given for certain versions o will be aiming to look into them versions within the coming weeks. 

[Caya]

Hi Elston and welcome to the forum!

As for different versions, everyone has their own favourite(s) (does Vienna Blood count? ) but I think we can all agree that the Grenada series is excellent.

[Carol the Dabbler]

5 hours ago, Caya said:

I think we can all agree that the Grenada series is excellent.

AKA the Jeremy Brett version, and I agree!  

 

We also have the following on DVD:

Sherlock (the BBC TV series)

Elementary (another modern-day TV adaptation)

all (I think) of the Basil Rathbone movies

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (a comedy) with Gene Wilder as the titular younger brother Sigerson, and Douglas Wilmer (who had played Holmes on TV some years earlier) as Sherlock

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

and both Downey movies

... and quite possibly more that were hiding behind something else.

 

[HerlockSholmes]

Hi all,

It’s been a while. I hope that everyone is well?

In reply to ElstonGunn - there are quite a few versions that are well worth looking at. Carol and Caya have already gone to the top of the pile by mentioning the Granada series with the finest Holmes ever imo Jeremy Brett. The Rathbone Bruce series gets a mention too as it always should. Rathbone is superb.

Radio versions - The series created by Bert Coules starring Clive Merrison as Holmes is about as good as it gets but there are some others that are easy to access (and cheaply) First, Rathbone and Bruce recorded many radio adventures until Rathbone decided that he’d had enough of Holmes, but Bruce continued with an actor called Tom Conway as Holmes (it’s often difficult to distinguish him from Rathbone). Before Merrison probably the best radio series was with Carlton Hobbs as Holmes and Norman Shelley as Watson - well worth listening to. Finally on radio there were few episodes recorded with John Gielgud as Holmes and Ralph Richardson as Watson (two very eminent English actors) but one other to mention had John Stanley as Holmes - not as good imo but well worth a listen. All of the above are easy to find and will cost very little. You can probably listen to most of them on YouTube. There are a few others but I can’t recall them from memory.

TV Series - Two classic UK series that are both available on dvd/blue ray are from the 60’s. The first stars Douglas Wilmer as Holmes with Nigel Stock as Watson. Wilmer is brilliant as Holmes and before Brett he was considered by many to be the definitive Holmes. You can buy the box set easily but there aren’t many episodes (Wilmer appeared in an episode of Sherlock of course). When Wilmer decided he’d had enough Peter Cushing took over but his series was in colour while Wilmer’s was black and White. Both great though. 
 

The celebrated Russian series is also easily available with Vasily Livanov as Holmes. Well worth watching although they would have been improved by having the subtitles done by someone that spoke English properly. An enjoyable TV series of shorts starred Ronald Howard. They aren’t faithful to the originals but they are worth watching, as is a later series (made by the same producer) starting Geoffrey Whitehead as Holmes.

Movies - A Study in Terror - John Neville is an excellent Holmes trying to track down Jack the Ripper.

The Hound of the Baskervilles made by Hammer and with Peter Cushing as Holmes is very good. One of Cushing’s TV episodes was also The Hound so he’s the only actor to have done it twice.

The Seven Percent Solution with Nicol Williamson as Holmes is also good. Holmes meets Sigmund Freud in Watson’s attempt to cure him of his cocaine addition (Charles Grey who plays Mycroft in the Grenada series plays Mycroft in this too)

Also easy to get are the 4 pre- Rathbone era Holmes movies starting Arther Wontner as Holmes. Not great movies but enjoyable and Wontner is an excellent Holmes.

I hope that helps? Lots of good Holmes stuff out there (a fair bit of not-so-good too🙂)

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hey, Herlock, good to see you again!  And I figured you'd have the longest list (by far)!    

 

[HerlockSholmes]

On 12/22/2025 at 2:54 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Hey, Herlock, good to see you again!  And I figured you'd have the longest list (by far)!    

 

Hi Carol, it’s certainly been a while. I hope that you’re well? Likewise Arcadia and everyone else of course. 

Yes I’ve quite a list although these days I’d struggle to follow all of the variations and follow-ons. The latest appears to be Watson (which I haven’t watched) then there was Enola Holmes (which I haven’t watched either) When I was last here I seem to recall the series where Holmes was a Japanese woman being discussed (I think that I saw one episode and didn’t like it) but I’m sure that there have been a few more. Maybe some of them are ok but there’s some heavy ‘cashing in’ going on and no sign of the two things that I’d actually like to see happen - a new traditional Holmes series and a new series of Sherlock - neither of which seem likely to occur as we speak; and I wouldn’t like to say which of the two was least likely (although I’d favour the Holmes series for that title) I get the feeling that any return of Messrs Cumberbatch, Freeman and Gatiss might be likeliest in the form of some kind of one-off programme but even that doesn’t appear to be in anyone’s plans at the moment.

I’d just assumed that a third Robert Downey Jnr Holmes movie was in the making but checking online it doesn’t look like anything has begun yet and there appears to be some doubt as to whether it will ever surface. I’ve just seen that Guy Ritchie is doing a Young Sherlock movie now. I’m waiting for Sherlock the Toddler or Sherlock the Old Woman next.

I’m only just getting over a very traumatic experience in that I had to make the decision to part with the vast majority of my Holmes book collection. They took up five x 6” bookshelves and I just needed the space. I keep a few of course and so now have just one shelf which I look at with a bit of sadness (how attached we get to possessions?) I have around 350 books on the ripper murders already taking up shelf space but they are going nowhere and I gave various other subjects which have now emerged from a couple of cupboards to fill the spaces. If I want to read some Holmes pastiches I’ll do it via Kindle.

By the way, if anyone is looking for some good stories I can recommend The Six-Thirteen From Fairfield Junction and Other Cases of Sherlock Holmes by the brilliant Holmes pastiche writer Denis O. Smith. Quality stuff as ever.

………….

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all on Sherlock Forum.👍🎅🥂

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

2 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

The latest appears to be Watson (which I haven’t watched)

Not sure I had even heard of that -- TV show?  OK, it's an American production, streaming (  ), and I think they said it's from the same outfit that produced Elementary.  They needed to make it distinctive, so this Watson is Black and apparently American.  Holmes has died and Watson has returned to doctoring, but of course the mysteries seem to find him anyhow.  Judging by the trailer on the show's IMDb page I'd say it's got possibilities -- a sense of humor at least.

As for the others you mentioned, the Enola Holmes movies still seem to be unavailable on DVD, so I haven't seen them either, though I'd love to (having read and enjoyed all the novels).  I've seen only a few bits of the Japanese series, which looked promising (I especially liked that Miss Sherlock's assistant was named Wato-san).

2 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

the two things that I’d actually like to see happen - a new traditional Holmes series and a new series of Sherlock - neither of which seem likely to occur as we speak;

A traditional series would seem to be against today's zeitgeist.  Otherwise, though, it's about time for one, as it's been over 30 years (!) since the last Brett episode.  As for Sherlock, I'd say give it another 5-10 years, and/or until Messrs Moffat & Gatiss get bored with what they've been doing and/or come up with a nifty new plot.

3 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I’ve just seen that Guy Ritchie is doing a Young Sherlock movie now. I’m waiting for Sherlock the Toddler or Sherlock the Old Woman next.

Yeah, I guess they've already done Sherlock the Old Man (though Ian McKellen was only in his mid-70s then).

 

3 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I had to make the decision to part with the vast majority of my Holmes book collection. They took up five x 6” bookshelves ....

I assume your bookshelves are actually 6 feet long    but yeah, I hear you.  I keep meaning to bring down some of my attic collection, but there just aren't that many shelves available.  Meaning, as in your case, that something's gotta go!  (Though I suppose there's room for a few more bookcases....)

 

[HerlockSholmes]

On 12/24/2025 at 12:47 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Not sure I had even heard of that -- TV show?  OK, it's an American production, streaming (  ), and I think they said it's from the same outfit that produced Elementary.  They needed to make it distinctive, so this Watson is Black and apparently American.  Holmes has died and Watson has returned to doctoring, but of course the mysteries seem to find him anyhow.  Judging by the trailer on the show's IMDb page I'd say it's got possibilities -- a sense of humor at least.

The series might be a good one and I certainly shouldn’t pre-judge. It’s more a case of “how many different ‘angles’ can there be?” I loved House so there’s no reason why this one couldn’t be good too. I imagine that I’ll eventually get around to watching an episode at some point.

On 12/24/2025 at 12:47 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

As for the others you mentioned, the Enola Holmes movies still seem to be unavailable on DVD, so I haven't seen them either, though I'd love to (having read and enjoyed all the novels).  I've seen only a few bits of the Japanese series, which looked promising (I especially liked that Miss Sherlock's assistant was named Wato-san).

A traditional series would seem to be against today's zeitgeist.  Otherwise, though, it's about time for one, as it's been over 30 years (!) since the last Brett episode.  As for Sherlock, I'd say give it another 5-10 years, and/or until Messrs Moffat & Gatiss get bored with what they've been doing and/or come up with a nifty new plot.

I can’t see a traditional series coming any time soon either Carol. Things like the Watson series don’t have the baggage that a traditional series carries because there’s nothing for the viewers to compare it to so it’s judged as a standalone work, as it should be; individuals either like it or they don’t. A trad series is always going to be compared to the Granada series and anyone playing Holmes would be compared to Brett so I really don’t see anyone attempting it….not for a few years anyway. There’s certainly more chance of a new Sherlock at some point but, as you say, we may have a few years to wait. 
 

Here’s a hypothetical one for you Carol (and anyone else) could you imagine them doing a Sherlock at some point with someone other than Cumberbatch playing him?🤔

On 12/24/2025 at 12:47 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

Yeah, I guess they've already done Sherlock the Old Man (though Ian McKellen was only in his mid-70s then).

I always hoped that they might do another ‘older Holmes’ movie with McKellen but I doubt it. 

Talking of ‘older Holmes,’ I’m surprised that, as yet, we’ve seen no Mary Russell/ Holmes movie based on the Laurie King books. A few years ago it was said that an adaptation was being looked at and planned but there’s been nothing yet. It’s difficult to imagine why it’s such a difficult prospect. 

On 12/24/2025 at 12:47 AM, Carol the Dabbler said:

 

I assume your bookshelves are actually 6 feet long    but yeah, I hear you.  I keep meaning to bring down some of my attic collection, but there just aren't that many shelves available.  Meaning, as in your case, that something's gotta go!  (Though I suppose there's room for a few more bookcases....)

 

I’ve been moving books on over the past few years out of necessity Carol. I’d have loved to have had a proper library room but I just don’t have that kind of space so the local charity shops have been getting regular donations from me. It’s impossible to estimate how many books I’ve given away although it’s well over a 1000. I’ve probably got no more than 1000 left now (with around 330 being on the subject of Jack the Ripper) Do you know where I can buy a TARDIS cheap?😁

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

54 minutes ago, HerlockSholmes said:

A trad series is always going to be compared to the Granada series and anyone playing Holmes would be compared to Brett

Then again, I recall when Brett was being compared to Rathbone.  And presumably Rathbone started out being compared to somebody before that.  But as you say, maybe in a few more years.

 

57 minutes ago, HerlockSholmes said:

could you imagine them doing a Sherlock at some point with someone other than Cumberbatch playing him?🤔

Well, I could probably imagine it, but Moffat & Gatiss have been quite adamant that they would never recast either Cumberbatch or Freeman.  If when you say "them" however you mean "somebody" in the relatively distant future -- who knows?  I guess if the original show (hopefully as typified by the first couple of seasons) has made a sufficiently positive impression on the current younger generations, the concept might well outlive Cumberbatch & Co.

1 hour ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I always hoped that they might do another ‘older Holmes’ movie with McKellen but I doubt it.

So do I.  Wasn't McKellen's Holmes struggling with the early stages of dementia?  Barring the imminent development of a cure (yes, please!), I don't see how they could explain him being able to remember the case long enough to investigate it.  Though -- hmm -- I'm pretty sure they "aged" him with makeup for that movie.  If so, then perhaps (without the "old" makeup) they could do a prequel.  He's only in his mid-80s and according to IMDb, currently has several projects lined up (including something called The Hunt for Gollum).

2 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I’m surprised that, as yet, we’ve seen no Mary Russell/ Holmes movie based on the Laurie King books.

 Now that you mention it, so am I.  (Though according to Wikipedia, "In 2000, Monica Dolan starred as Russell in a 4-part BBC Radio drama of The Beekeeper's Apprentice, with James Fox playing Holmes.")  Apparently King is continuing to write the books (with the most recent one published just six months ago, in June 2025).

2 hours ago, HerlockSholmes said:

I’d have loved to have had a proper library room but I just don’t have that kind of space so the local charity shops have been getting regular donations from me.

A while back I did sort through several boxes of attic books, and now have one large boxful that I probably wouldn't mind giving away (but I want to look through once more, just to be sure), just need to grit my teeth and follow through.  Then I can triage some more boxfuls.  Fortunately I don't seem to be acquiring books very often nowadays (and I do hope that Alexander McCall Smith will wrap up his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series pretty soon).

My big quandary is finding a good home for the books that I don't keep.  When Mom died, I took several boxes of perfectly good, interesting books to the local used-book chain, but they were interested in only two (!) of the newer books.  The charity shops and the library book sales are a lot more open-minded, I think, but I wish I knew how many donated books they actually find new homes for -- vs. how many they umm, don't.  

 

[HerlockSholmes]

18 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

Then again, I recall when Brett was being compared to Rathbone.  And presumably Rathbone started out being compared to somebody before that.  But as you say, maybe in a few more years.

It would be perhaps hard to imagine no one attempting one at some point Carol but the trend is toward doing ‘versions’ of the character which is fine. I can understand producers/writers liking the freedom of not being shackled to certain familiar storylines but another option would be to do one off, movie-length stories taken from the various Holmes pastiches that have been written.

18 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

 

Well, I could probably imagine it, but Moffat & Gatiss have been quite adamant that they would never recast either Cumberbatch or Freeman.  If when you say "them" however you mean "somebody" in the relatively distant future -- who knows?  I guess if the original show (hopefully as typified by the first couple of seasons) has made a sufficiently positive impression on the current younger generations, the concept might well outlive Cumberbatch & Co.

Yes it’s a strange thought. The series certainly struck a note with younger people which might perhaps be a little surprising? Not down to the quality because it was excellent but because of the storylines, which were quite complex and younger people today have a tendency toward action over brain power as far as I can see. Tough guys, high-tech weaponry, special effects, car chases etc. Maybe my impression is wrong though?

18 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

So do I.  Wasn't McKellen's Holmes struggling with the early stages of dementia?  Barring the imminent development of a cure (yes, please!), I don't see how they could explain him being able to remember the case long enough to investigate it.  Though -- hmm -- I'm pretty sure they "aged" him with makeup for that movie.  If so, then perhaps (without the "old" makeup) they could do a prequel.  He's only in his mid-80s and according to IMDb, currently has several projects lined up (including something called The Hunt for Gollum).

During the flashbacks in the movie we saw McKellen just before his retirement so I was thinking of around that kind of age Carol but set just after he’d retired to keep bees as in the Laurie King stories. McKellen would have been ideal if he was 20 years younger (and wanted to do it of course) Peter Cushing played Holmes when he was 70 and he thought that he was too old…he got away with it but he’d have been perfect to play a recently retired Holmes. It will certainly be interesting to see if they eventually make the Laurie King version. To be honest I do wonder what the problem is? 

18 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

 Now that you mention it, so am I.  (Though according to Wikipedia, "In 2000, Monica Dolan starred as Russell in a 4-part BBC Radio drama of The Beekeeper's Apprentice, with James Fox playing Holmes.")  Apparently King is continuing to write the books (with the most recent one published just six months ago, in June 2025).

Yes, I read about that one the other day Carol. I’ll have to track it down for a listen.

18 hours ago, Carol the Dabbler said:

A while back I did sort through several boxes of attic books, and now have one large boxful that I probably wouldn't mind giving away (but I want to look through once more, just to be sure), just need to grit my teeth and follow through.  Then I can triage some more boxfuls.  Fortunately I don't seem to be acquiring books very often nowadays (and I do hope that Alexander McCall Smith will wrap up his No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series pretty soon).

My big quandary is finding a good home for the books that I don't keep.  When Mom died, I took several boxes of perfectly good, interesting books to the local used-book chain, but they were interested in only two (!) of the newer books.  The charity shops and the library book sales are a lot more open-minded, I think, but I wish I knew how many donated books they actually find new homes for -- vs. how many they umm, don't.  

 

I really dislike giving books away Carol and stupidly I found that I’ve given away at least three by mistake. 
 

In my local town there’s an old second hand book shop. It’s been closed for at least 15 years and yet there it sits, full of books! I talked to a former bookshop owner in a nearby town 2 or 3 years ago and he said that he’d tried to buy the stock but the local council had to,d him that they went with the shop and couldn’t be sold separately. Could anything be more insane?